The Taming of the Shrew, Shakespeare in the Squares (Cleveland Square, London) Review
Written by Mia for Theatre & Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review
“Frame your mind to mirth and merriment, which bars a thousand harms and lengthens life.” ~ The Taming of the Shrew
There is a huge trend for adapting Shakespeare with toe-tapping hits and I for one am here for it. The above quote from The Taming of the Shrew pretty much sums up the show that director Toby Gordon has brought to Shakespeare in the Squares this summer.
The concept of the season itself is brilliant - take a production of one of the bard’s plays and perform it across London throughout the summer in all of the squares and gardens. Nothing could be more quintessentially British than sitting outside on a summer evening, sipping on a glass of champagne and nibbling on some strawberries whilst enjoying some theatre.
If it sounds idyllic then it is; plus this interpretation - set in the 1950s/1960s is extremely family-friendly, full of music, mirth and merriment, not to mention good old-fashioned clowning and audience participation.
It’s always difficult to perform outdoors without microphones, but all of the actors do a good job although some of the singing is lost at times. As it is an abridged version, those unfamiliar with the play may get a little lost, but it’s well acted and the songs aid the storytelling.
Standout performers include Kalifa Taylor (Tranio) and Paddy Duff (Lucentio) who bring a nice new spin to the characters that works really well. Sasha Wilson also delights as Katherine and her costumes in particular are stunning.
The circus-esque diner scene is a little jarring at first, but once embraced becomes amusing, complete with discreet humiliation of several audience members.
It’s such a fun evening and Shakespeare in the Squares is such a brilliant idea; I can’t believe I’d never heard of them before! In 2026 they will celebrate their 10-year anniversary and I’m super excited to see what they bring us to celebrate.
★★★★